Many of my ideas for paintings come to me in dreams. Such is the case with “Indie an Asian Elephant.” However finding a photo of the exact image of the elephant in my dreams proved to be illusive. Imagine my surprise when a photo of “Indie”---the same elephant I saw in my dreams arrived in the mail from a dear young friend visiting the subcontinent of India.

“Indie” is an Asian elephant protected as an endangered species in the Tadoba National Park in Chandrapur, India. Slightly smaller than their African cousins, you can always tell if an elephant is from Asia or Africa by the shape of their ears. Asian elephant ears are smaller and shaped much like India while African elephant ears are larger and shaped like Africa.

My goal for this painting was to capture the stately elegance of the largest land animal on earth. My hope is all who view “Indie” confirms that aspiration.